Title:Nanostructured Lipid Carrier-loaded In Situ Gel for Ophthalmic Drug Delivery: Preparation and In Vitro Characterization Studies
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Author(s): Vidya Sabale*, Vaishnavi Belokar, Manasi Jiwankar and Prafulla Sabale
Affiliation:
- Dadasaheb Balpande College of Pharmacy, Besa, Nagpur, 440 037, Maharashtra, India
Keywords:
Ophthalmic, loratadine, NLC, microemulsion, gel, drug delivery.
Abstract:
Background: Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) are explored as vehicles for ophthalmic
drug delivery owing to their better drug loading, good permeation, and satisfactory safety profile.
Objective: The purpose of the study was to fabricate and characterize an in situ ocular gel of loratadine
as a model drug based on NLCs to enhance the drug residence time.
Methods: NLCs were fabricated using the microemulsion method in which solid lipid as Compritol
888 ATO, lipid as oleic acid, surfactant as Tween 80, and isopropyl alcohol as co-surfactant as alcohol
were used. Based on the evaluation of formulation batches of NLCs, the optimized batch was selected
and further utilized for the formulation of n situ gel containing Carbopol 934 and HPMC
K15M as gelling agents, and characterized
Results: The optimized NLCs of loratadine exhibited entrapment efficiency of 83.13 ± 0.13% and an
average particle size of 18.98 ± 1.22 nm. Drug content and drug release were found to be 98.67 and
92.48%, respectively. Excellent rheology and mucoadhesion were demonstrated by the loratadine
NLC-loaded in situ gel to enhance its attachment to the mucosa. NLC-based in situ oculargel showed
the desired results for topical administration. The prepared gel was observed to be non-irritating to
the eye.
Conclusion: The optimized NLC-based in situ gel formulation presented better corneal retention and
it was found to be stable, offering sustained release of the drug. Thus, the joined system of sol-gel
was found promising for ophthalmic drug delivery.
